Imbolc is the ceremony to welcome in the spring. White is the general color that is supposed to go with it, although red, yellow, and violet also work. Try to wear something vaguely renaissance-type. Tunics are good. The Maiden wears white, and a chaplet of white flowers if possible. The Mother wears red, and the Crone wears black. The ceremony is done outside, so bear that in mind. It can get cold, and muddy, and three days after we did this particular ceremony, an ice storm locked up D.C. for a week.

Come to us from the Earth's four quarters
Earth and Air and Fire and Water,
Bring your minions to this home
Sylphs, Undines, Salamanders, Gnomes.
Ask your Captains, Nixsa, Djinn, Paralda, Ghob
To bring them in.

The first time, only the Maiden chants. After that, it is done twice more, once by the Mother and once by the Crone.

Then everyone turns to the east to greet Paralda, Captain of the Sylphs and Lord of the East. He says:
The Air is the element of Spring,
The Maiden returns to bring forth her son,
The Oak returns from his rest,
And the spiral turns anew.

Everyone turns south to greet Djin, Captain of the Salamanders and Lord of the South. He says:
The Fire is the power of warmth,
The sun returns to our lands,
The light wakes the plants from their slumber,
And the spiral turns anew.

Everyone turns west to greet Nixsa, Captain of the Undines and Lord of the West. He says:
The Water douses the land,
The thirsty life drinks and awakens,
The streams and rivers fill with melting snow,
And the spiral turns anew.

Finally, everyone turns north to great Ghob, Captain of the Gnomes and Lord of the North. He says:
The Earth gives up her treasures,
The Bear wakes from his slumber,
The Holly lord retires in the face of Spring,
And the spiral turns anew.

Everyone faces into the circle again, and the Mother and Crone step into the outer circle, leaving the Maiden alone in the circle.

The five people who ask the blessing on the earth arrange themselves in a five pointed star, and the first one begins:
On this day we remember to Goddess who left us as Crone at Samhaine, and is to return to us. Come back to us, Lady, and bring the spring.

The first person salutes the Maiden, and the second person continues:
Lady, the snowdrops have pushed their way through the cold, wet earth, and we dream of your return. Come back to us, Lady, and bring the spring.

The second person salutes the Maiden, and the third person continues:
The birds return from their winter home. Come back to us, Lady, and bring the spring.

The third person salutes the Maiden, and the fourth person continues:
The plants which went down into the earth with you are close to renewal. Come back to us, Lady, and bring the spring.

The fourth person salutes the Maiden, and the fifth person continues:
The trees are waiting to bring forth new leaves. Come back to us, Lady, and bring the spring.

The fifth person salutes the Maiden, and the first person says:
Come back from the Caves of Annwn, where souls are purged of pain and sorrow.

The second person:
Return from Hel, where souls are purged of grief and despair.

The third person:
Come to us from the Mists of Avalon, from the Apple Orchard.

The fourth person:
Come from Tir-nan-Og, the Land of Blessed Rest.

The fifth person:
Return from the Land of Faerie, where you have dreamed long dreams of summer.

Everyone salutes the Maiden, and says:
Come back to us, Lady, and bring the spring.

The Maiden curtsies, and says:
Cold Winter is gone, the snow will thaw,
The badger stirs within the Earth.
I sing the Goddess back once more
To give the land its own re-birth.
The snowdrop comes, the robin sings,
I come now, the Maiden.
And with one voice
In spring and love and Goddess we rejoice.

She passes round the cauldron, with oatmeal cookies inside, and then everyone gets a drink from the glass of water that was next to the cauldron. Then everyone forms a circle around the Maiden and the Crone, and the Crone passes something of hers to the Maiden, saying,
I pass this to you and with this I bring,
From ancient cold Winter to much younger spring,
From one who is done to one in her prime,
So mote it be, in comes the springtime.

The Crone curtsies, the Maiden puts on the jewelry, and breaks the circle in the east. She says,
So mote it be! Fiat!

Everyone echos:
So mote it be! Fiat!